[jw-lu597]

So I'm sure this has been covered somewhat before, but I tried a quick search and didn't find what I was looking for.

I'm looking to buy an oxy/acetylene kit. Gonna buy it on company PO and just get a payroll deduction, so price is less of a factor than quality. I'm gonna be going with the standard B and MC tank, and will be working on everything from resi A/C and light commercial refrigeration on up to the bigger stuff. I like the Uniweld stuff judging from the regulators I've seen, and have had my eye on the Centurion kit, but would like to hear opinions. I'm in Chicago, so it wouldn't be difficult to find a supply house with just about any brand there is, such as turbo-torch, Uniweld, Victor, etc. Seems like most supply houses cater to turbo-torch, so I know there's plenty of selection on tips and such there, just not sure if I really want turbo-torch or not, as it seems like a cheaper rig altogether and from. What do you think?:.02:

 

[AC5096]

Oxy/acetylene portable you need the MC acetylene and I think it's the R oxygen.

I use the Victor/Turbo Torch. I had an older Uniweld 70's vintage wish I would have kept it. I seem to have my share of problems with the Victor regulators. I do like the small Victor J28 handle. Great for tight spots.



Uniweld and Victor/Turbo Torch tips interchange which is a plus.

 

[jw-lu597]

Oxy/acetylene portable you need the MC acetylene and I think it's the R oxygen.

Yeah, it's the portable I'm looking for. I guess it would be an R tank, not a B. B is pretty big, and I think for acetylene, but not oxygen.

Uniweld and Victor/Turbo Torch tips interchange which is a plus.

That is a plus. I'll probably go with the Uniweld. It's sure to be a little pricier, but seems like better quality. It would bother the hell out of me if I went with something cheaper on a big purchase like this and was unhappy. I like good tools, as I'm sure most in this trade do.

 

[trippintl0]

I just bought this Victor torch:

http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-20669-victor-0384-0936-genuine-portable-torch-cutting-welding.aspx

from that supplier and it works great. I like it a lot. They shipped it fast. Great price with tanks. Within 2 weeks I accidentally hit the regulator gauge while pulling it up on a roof, and clear cap popped off and metal gauge is dented. Oh well, it was the tank gauge so not that important.


Prior to that I bought a Harbor Freight kit for cheap, I mean like $250 WITH tanks! Great deal, worked nice, except one of the regulators failed after 4 months, just out of 90 day warranty, and there is no replacement regulator you can buy, and its a non-standard size, that no Victor, uniweld, NRP, nothing matches up with it. To replace the regulator with a different brand meant I needed new hoses, new torch tip, everything. (harbor freight does not sell a replacement regulator only)

Prior to that, I had the Smith VersaTorch which was stolen:

http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-22109-smith-versa-torch-cutting-brazing-outfit-jewerly-vt-4t.aspx

I also purchased the yellow hardhat regulator protectors. The protectors were awesome. You could bang the regulator gauges all day long and never have to worry about it. The thing I HATE about the versa torch and reason I did not buy it again after they were stolen, is this one thing: Look at the picture. See how the acetylene hose is sticking straight out to the side? Well it really does that. So when you wrap up the hoses, there is no way to make it not be bent at a sharp angle (or stick out really far) After about a year the hose had a severe wear at that bend and looked like it would break (but never did, just looked realllllly stretched)

I also purchased the Smith "quickbraze kit" and within a month the hose started leaking. The hose is super thin and light weight. I failed to return it within the warranty period (I'm a procrastinator). Too cheap.

 

[RuralSpaceman]

Been using Turbo Torch for brazing commercial work for over 15 years.

That's with just the Turbo Torch tips and acetylene only - no O2. Installed two 8-ton computer room AC units w/ remote condensers last year, made over 500 braze joints - not one leak, not one re-do, just solid, deep joints.

Use oxy/acet for steel brazing, welding, cutting only now.

As with any torch kit - make damn sure the hose-to-handle fittings don't come loose on you while brazing, or you may experience your very own flash burn like mine. I check every time now.:grin2:

 

[bwd111]

I just bought this Victor torch:

http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-20669-victor-0384-0936-genuine-portable-torch-cutting-welding.aspx

from that supplier and it works great. I like it a lot. They shipped it fast. Great price with tanks. Within 2 weeks I accidentally hit the regulator gauge while pulling it up on a roof, and clear cap popped off and metal gauge is dented. Oh well, it was the tank gauge so not that important.


Prior to that I bought a Harbor Freight kit for cheap, I mean like $250 WITH tanks! Great deal, worked nice, except one of the regulators failed after 4 months, just out of 90 day warranty, and there is no replacement regulator you can buy, and its a non-standard size, that no Victor, uniweld, NRP, nothing matches up with it. To replace the regulator with a different brand meant I needed new hoses, new torch tip, everything. (harbor freight does not sell a replacement regulator only)

Prior to that, I had the Smith VersaTorch which was stolen:

http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-22109-smith-versa-torch-cutting-brazing-outfit-jewerly-vt-4t.aspx

I also purchased the yellow hardhat regulator protectors. The protectors were awesome. You could bang the regulator gauges all day long and never have to worry about it. The thing I HATE about the versa torch and reason I did not buy it again after they were stolen, is this one thing: Look at the picture. See how the acetylene hose is sticking straight out to the side? Well it really does that. So when you wrap up the hoses, there is no way to make it not be bent at a sharp angle (or stick out really far) After about a year the hose had a severe wear at that bend and looked like it would break (but never did, just looked realllllly stretched)

I also purchased the Smith "quickbraze kit" and within a month the hose started leaking. The hose is super thin and light weight. I failed to return it within the warranty period (I'm a procrastinator). Too cheap.

You can use the Chicago Electric Oxygen/Acetylene tips on uniweld handles from harbor frieght. I never buy junk from that place but the tips are the same and 10 bucks for a number 6 tip. I found this out from uniweld supplier

 

[jtrammel]

I got a unwield kit with full tanks 1lb of 15% 4 different tips and a couple 3/4 couplings and 90s at a pawn shop last year for $75. It looked like it was never used... Looks like it's been through hell and back now but still works great.

 

[bwd111]

I got a unwield kit with full tanks 1lb of 15% 4 different tips and a couple 3/4 couplings and 90s at a pawn shop last year for $75. It looked like it was never used... Looks like it's been through hell and back now but still works great.

Great deal but when I do need tips u can get them cheap at the freight. Unless u got the everlasting tips that never go bad.